The Audi A3, the premium compact bestseller from the
brand with the four rings, is the 2014 World Car of the Year. This is the
second overall title for Audi in the ten year history of the World Car of the
Year Awards as the Audi A6 won the inaugural overall title in 2005.
The third generation of the Audi A3 is now officially
confirmed as a world beater. It overcame the challenge from 23 other cars to
win the prestigious World Car of the Year title in 2014. The A3 was voted as
the winner by an international jury panel comprising 69 automotive
journalists from 22 countries around the world. The results were declared in
the US at a press conference hosted by New York International Auto Show
and Bridgestone Corporation
Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi
AG, said: “The Audi A6 was the first ever winner of this award and we are
delighted that the Audi A3 has repeated that achievement by being voted 2014
World Car of the Year. The Audi A3 showcases Audi’s technical competence in all
aspects of car making, not least in the areas of lightweight technology,
drivetrain, mobile infotainment and driver assistance systems. This major award
win is an achievement that the whole company can celebrate.”
The new Audi A3 is available in the UK as a three door,
Sportback, Cabriolet and Saloon. It is powered by a range of TFSI petrol and
TDI diesel engines. Later this year, the A3 Sportback will also be available as
an e-tron, whose plug-in hybrid
drive enables journeys of up to 31 miles in all-electric mode.
Audi can look back on a 16-year
success story with the A3. In 1996, the first generation of the model series
established an entirely new market segment – the premium compact class. With
the second generation, which followed in 2003, the brand extended its
lead with the addition of a Cabriolet to the familiar three door and Sportback
body styles. The third A3 generation is available in four body styles following
the further addition of the Saloon.
With this win for the Audi A3, Audi has maintained its
position as the manufacturer with the most World Car of the Year titles. The
brand with the four rings has previously won three World Performance Car
titles, two World Car Design of the Year titles and the inaugural World Car of
the Year title. In total Audi has won seven titles at the World Car of the Year
Awards:
2005 Audi A6 World
Car of the Year
2007 Audi RS 4 World Performance Car, Audi TT World Car
Design of the Year
2008 Audi R8 World Performance Car, Audi R8 World Car
Design of the Year
2010 Audi R8 V10 World Performance Car
2014 Audi A3 World Car of the Year
The World Car Awards jurors observed that, “It might
borrow styling hints from its bigger brothers, but the A3 still offers classic,
chiseled contours and even better interior trim levels. With a superb choice of
engines and 4 body styles, the A3 range packs a hefty premium punch in the
small luxury segment. Audi should be complimented for making this A3 ride like
no other A3. All the old shimmer over rough surfaces has gone, replaced by a
silky smooth ride that approaches limousine quality”.
To be eligible for the overall World Car award, the
candidates must become available for sale on at least two continents during the
period beginning January 1, 2013 and ending May 31, 2014.
Previous World Car of the Year winners are the Volkswagen
Golf, the Volkswagen Up! in 2012, the Nissan Leaf in 2011, the Volkswagen Polo
in 2010, Volkswagen Golf in 2009, the Mazda2 / Mazda Demio in 2008, the Lexus
LS460 in 2007, the BMW 3-Series in 2006, and the Audi A6 in 2005.
Now in their tenth year, the annual World Car Awards are
now the number one awards programme in the world based on Prime Research’s 2013
report. The awards were inaugurated in
2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the
global marketplace, as well as to recognise and reward automotive excellence on
an international scale. The awards are
intended to complement, not compete, with existing national and regional Car of
the Year programmes.
The awards are administered by a non-profit association,
under the guidance of a Steering Committee of pre-eminent automotive
journalists from Asia, Europe, and North America. Peter Lyon (Japan) and Matt
Davis (Italy) are the co-chairs; Jens Meiners (Germany), Mike Rutherford
(U.K.), Eddie Alterman (USA), and Gerry Malloy (Canada) are the directors. There is no affiliation with, nor are the
awards in any way influenced by any publication, auto show, automaker, or other
commercial enterprise.
Source: Audi /
WCOTY
Picture : Peter Lyon,
World Car Awards co-chairman hands the trophy to Scott Keogh, President of Audi
America, after the A3 was named World Car of the Year. Picture courtesy WCOTY